23 Must-Dos To Add To Your Summer Bucket List

Not only are bucket lists a fun way to look forward to summer– it’s kind of like every girl’s rite of passage. Hello, remember Now And Then? (Actually, add watching that to your bucket list!) Below, a deeply thought out bucket list that will leave you with a better life outlook, loads of inspiration, and completely refreshed for the fall semester.

TAKE A ROAD TRIP TO A NEW PLACE

It’s no secret that we all crave adventure, however, a lot of us are on a tight budget when it comes to travel. Taking a road trip to a nearby town/city with a few cool tourist attractions is one way you can fulfill your wanderlust without breaking the bank!

FALL IN LOVE WITH YOUR OWN BODY

Start by reading Lala girl Lea Ciastko’s “13 Body Positive Quotes Every College Girl Needs,” and get inspired to teach yourself how to love your body. After all, it’s the only body you have and you’re going to have it for the rest of your life. You might as well embrace appreciate all your body can do for you.

VOLUNTEER OR DONATE TO A CHARITY

Not only does volunteering look really good on a resume, it makes you feel good inside too! Find a place that offers what you enjoy (playing with animals, cleaning up the earth, spending time with people) and get to it! If you don’t think volunteering is an option for you, you could always donate to a charity of your choice. You never know how far $5 can go. And hey, something as simple as cleaning out your closet and donating the clothes is a wonderful way to score major karma points.

DO SOMETHING THAT WILL GIVE YOU AN ADRENALINE RUSH

We all know that feeling you get when you experience something intense… your heart feels like it might pound right out of your chest, you start sweating and breathing harder, and you feel incredibly energized. Every once in awhile an adrenaline rush can be a really good thing for our bodies and they usually call for some pretty good memories. Whether it be mountain biking, bungee jumping, skydiving, riding a rollercoaster, you know your limits, but you also know what gets your blood pumping.

BE UP EARLY ENOUGH TO WATCH THE SUNRISE

Even if you’re not on top of a mountain or at a beach, the sunrise is still something beautiful to see, and can refresh your outlook on life. If this means you stay up all night then so be it, as long as you’re spending that time doing something that makes you genuinely happy.

LEARN TO DO SOMETHING YOU’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO

There has to be at least one thing you’ve always wanted to learn how to do. For some people, that might be learning how to play guitar, how to code, how to knit. Whatever you feel like you need or want to learn then go ahead and do it! Chances are you can find a great free tutorial on youtube.

CREATE A WEBSITE TO SHOWCASE YOUR TALENTS

Drawing, making your own clothes, adobe programs, etc. You know what you’re good at, so why not create a website to show off how awesome you are at what you do?! Wix is a great site to use to create your website since it’s free and very easy to use and easy to customize.

MAKE A TIME CAPSULE/WRITE A LETTER TO YOUR FUTURE SELF

This is supposed to be the best time of our lives– we’re learning, growing, and experiencing tons of new things. Why not do something that your future self would appreciate? Write a letter to yourself and tell yourself what it’s like to be you at this very moment, what your goals are, what the best moment of your life has been thus far, etc. You can put this letter in a time capsule if you choose but if you’re anything like me, you’ll probably forget about it… maybe we’re better off writing a letter and hiding it somewhere we won’t look for a while.

MAKE NEW FRIENDS

Making new friends can be really hard, but this summer take charge and go out there and really try to make at least one new friend. There are few better things than meeting new people who become lifelong friends. Put yourself out there, smile and say hello to a stranger, join a club or group nearby. You never realize how far a little friendship will get you in life.

MAKE A DRASTIC CHANGE TO YOUR APPEARANCE

Sometimes you just gotta cut off your hair or dye it a bold, dramatic color. So this summer just got for it! You know you’ve wanted to dye your hair pink for years so you might as well do it while you’re young and can pull it off.

LEARN HOW TO DANCE

Waltz, tango, salsa into your summer. You never know when you might need to whip out some classic dance moves, and they’ll be extremely helpful for events like weddings and other formal parties. Honestly, what’s cooler than being able to wow your friends on the dance floor?

VISIT A BREWERY/DISTILLERY/WINERY

If you’re old enough, visiting a brewery, distillery or a winery can be a really great experience. Not only do you get to discover new tastes, but you’ll be surrounded by beautiful scenery and interesting people. What a classy way to spend a day outside.

SEE A MUSICAL/PLAY

There are few better ways to add some culture and the arts to your life than to see a musical or a play live. The good news about musicals and plays is that you don’t need to trek to NYC’s Broadway in order to enjoy one, chances are there are a handful of musicals or plays happening near you.

READ FEMINISM IS FOR EVERYBODY BY BELL HOOKS

Feminism is for Everybody is a classic feminist reading published in 2000. Feminism is hot right now (as it should be) so study up on the revolution you’re living in. It’s an incredible time to be a feminist. So read up!

TRY A NEW CUISINE

Trying out a new restaurant or cuisine you’ve never experienced is a simple way to add a little culture to your summer. It may seem simple, but being the girl that knows the best ramen noodle burger in town is kind of a cool title to hold.

GO CELL PHONE FREE FOR A DAY

The thought of going a day without your cell phone might scare the hell out of you, but it can help to bring you back in touch with reality and refresh your mind. Lucky for you, Lala girl Sarah Sheppard wrote an amazing piece on how to master going technology free for an entire day.

PLANT SOMETHING AND WATCH IT GROW

Whether it be a tree or a flower, plant something that excites you. Spend the rest of the summer caring for it & watching it grow.

TAKE A MENTAL HEALTH DAY

Everyone needs to take a mental health day every now and then. The best part about mental health days is that you can spend them any way you want, whatever clears your head and gets you feeling good as new. Spend the day watching movies, reading, sunbathing at the beach, or doing just about anything that makes you happy.

SPEND A DAY WITH YOUR FAMILY

If you don’t make time during summer, when will you make time? Set a few days or evenings aside and make some intentional plans. Go on a walk with your mom, work on a project with your grandfather, take your little sister to ice cream. It’s sweet simple summer memories with your family that will stay forever.

VISIT YOUR DOCTOR FOR A CHECK-UP

Your health should be one of your top priorities so why not make sure everything’s running smoothly while you have some downtime? It’s also never a bad idea to visit your dentist, gyno, and optometrist, just to name a few, if you haven’t already been making regular appointments.

CLEAN OUT YOUR CLOSET & REFRESH YOUR WARDROBE

Unless you’re living a very strict minimalist lifestyle, cleaning out your closet is something that we could probably all benefit from. We’ve all heard of the rule that says for each piece of clothing you buy to get rid of one you already own, but how many of us actually follow it? Take a day to clean out your closet and get rid of pieces that you will no longer wear or haven’t worn in awhile, and either donate them or sell them. Then you can turn around and refresh your wardrobe with pieces you’ve been eyeing for a while.

INDULGE IN SOMETHING YOU LOVE

Have a piece of chocolate cake with ice cream, take a bubble bath with a glass of wine or champagne, take something you love but rarely get to do and do it!

BE A TOURIST FOR A DAY IN YOUR OWN HOMETOWN

Traveling isn’t always an option for everyone, but being a tourist in your own hometown is! No matter how small your hometown is there is definitely something worth seeing. Not only can it make you feel like you’re traveling and experiencing a new place, but it can give you a fresher outlook on a place that you’ve been for so long and teach you to appreciate the things you are surrounded by every day.